Hand knitting apparatus



A 441441 A A. V A

R. VON SKENE- ET AL HAND KNITTING APPARATUS March 2, 1954 Filed Nov. 14, 1951 INVENTORS.'

KQBERV von! SKEr/e, kluy WERNER LEHKEIT N10 LISBETH ALIBDK BY wlw Referring now to the drawings, a needle board 2 is mounted on a supporting means l and is secured thereto by bolts and nuts 5. The bolt 5 passes through transversal slots 6 inthe needle board 2 so that the same may be adjusted transversely on the supporting means I. A stationary needle comb 'f' constituting a retaining means is mounted on the supporting means I, and the distance between the supporting means and the needle board 2, on one hand, and the needle comb I on the other hand may-be gradually adjusted by lever means 8.

A longitudinally movable actuating member 3 is guided by rails l and provided with an eccentric groove 3 inwhich the projecting portions I0' pi the horizontal needles IG are guided. The .walls of the groove 3 constitute cam means for consecutively moving the needles I0 in a trans- 'versal direction' when the movable actuating member 3 is longitudinally moved. The horizon- `tal needles it indicated in inactive position by reference numeral I2 are movable independently of each other from a retracted position indilcatedby the reference numeral II to an advanced position, and each horizontal needle ill passes during such movement between two adjacent vertical needles of the needle comb 'I'. The horizontal needles have hooked ends which are closed by pivoted tongues IG". The movable actuating member 3 is provided with an arm I4 on which a retaining means I4 is mounted. The retaining means I4 is provided ,with an operating face which is located below the plane defined by the row of horizontal needles and extends intermediate the needle comb 'I and the line dened by the hooked ends of the horizontal needles I0 in advanced position. Thread inserting means 9 are mounted on the arm I4 so the new thread is pulled therethrough and a new loop is formed. rihis new loop passes through the hooked endof the horizontal needle in retracted position behind the needle comb while the knitted piece is suspended thereon in front of the needle comb. Thereupon, the operation is repeated.

as to move with the movable actuating means hooks of the needles II! in retracted position II thereof. Since in the retracted position II of the horizontal needles the hooked ends thereof are located closely behind the needle comb i, the knitted piece hangs in front of the needle comb 'I. When the horizontal needles are consecutively advanced by the movable actuating means 3, each loop is carried' towards the thread inserting means 9, and whilethe hooked end is passing over the retaining means I4, the knitted piece is retained by the retaining means I4 whereby the loop is pulled out of the hooked end of the advancing needle so as to slide onto the shaft thereof. Consequently, the advancing needle arrives at kits most advanced position underthe thread inserting means free of a loop, and in this position a new thread is inserted into the hooked end thereof.

Further movement of the movable actuating means causes retraction of the needles, and when the hooked end of a retracted needle passes through the needle comb 7, the old loop by which the knitted piece is suspended from the shaft 'of the needle is retained by the vertical needles of the needle comb so that it passes over the hooked end of the horizontal needle whereby The hooked ends of the horizontal needles are provided with pivoted tongues IG which are opened by the old loops when the same are pulled out of the hooked .ends by the retaining means I4, and are closed again when the old loop on the shaft of the needle is pulled over the hooked end when a new loop is formed and the old loop is retained by the needle comb.

By adjusting the relative position of the needle comb with respect to the line dened by the horizontal-needles in retracted position, the size of the newly formed loops may be varied. Such adjustment may be carried out by transversely adjusting the needle comb 1, or the needle board 2.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also ind a useful application in other types of hand knitting apparatus diiiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a hand knitting appaiatus having an adjustable vertically arranged needle comb and a set of horizontally movable needles, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as newand desired to be secured by Letters Patent isz.

1. A hand knitting apparatus, comprising in combination, elongated supporting means; an elongated needle board mounted on said supporting means; an elongated needle comb including a row of vertical parallel spaced needles located in front of said supporting means; a row of spaced parallel horizontal needles transversely movably mounted on said needle board and projecting therefrom with a free hooked end portion and a shaft portion; movable actuating means for moving consecutively each of said horizontal needles from a retracted position with -said free hooked end portion thereof located closely behind said vertical needles to an advanced position between two adjacent vertical needles with said free hooked end portion and a shaft portion located in front of said vertical needles, and then back again to said retracted position; retaining means secured to and movable with said actuating means and having an operating face located below the plane defined by said row of horizontal needles and extending intermediate the advanced position of said free hooked end portions of said horizontal needles and said row of vertical n eedles, said retaining means being adapted to pull loops out of the hooked end portions of said horizontal needles onto said shaft portions when said hooked end portions are advanced by said actuating means beyond saidl operatingv race; and means secured to andfmovablewith said movable actuating means for inserting. a thread into said hooked end portions of said horizontal needles in said advanced position thereof after said hooked end portions are freed of said loops by said retaining means so that new loops are formed by pulling said'thread through said loops retained bvsaid row. of vertical needles when said hori. zontal needles are retracted by said movable actus: ating means to said retracted position.. i

2. A hand knitting apparatus, comprising incombination, elongated. supporting means; Van elongated needle board mounted on said support--` ing means; anelongated needle combincludina a row of vertical parallelspacedneedles located in front of said supportingmeans lmounted thereon movably in a transverse direction; a row of spaced parallel horizontal needles transversely movably mounted on said needle board and Dro jecting therefrom with azfree hoolred'end portion; and a shaft portion; movable actuating means' for; moving consecutively each of Said horizontal needles from a retracted position with said. free hooked end portion thereof located closely bles hind said vertical needles to an advanced posi.. tion between two adjacent vertical needles with said free hooked end'portion and a shaft portion located in front of said vertical needles, and then backyagain to said retracted position; retaining means securedto and movable with said actuating means and having anv operating face located below the plane defined by said row of horizontal needles and-extending intermediate the advanced and the retracted position of said free hooked end portions of said horizontal needles and said row of vertical needles, said retaining means be-. ing adapted to pull loops; out of the hooked end. portions of saidhorizontal needles onto said shaft` portions when said hooked end portions are advanced by said actuating means beyond said op.- erating face; means secured to and movable with said movable actuating means for inserting a thread intov saidhooked end portions of said horizontal needlesin said advanced position thereof after said hooked end portions are freed of said loops by said retaining means so that new loops are formed by pullingsaid thread through said loops retained by said rowv` ofV vertical needles when said horizontal needles are retracted by said movable actuating means. to said retracted position; and adjusting` means for transversely moving said needle comb and said needle. board relative to Veach other for adjusting the distance between said. needle combon one handv and said needle board and the hooked ends of the horizontal needles in retracted position on the other hand.

3. A hand knitting apparatus, comprising in combination, elongated supporting means; an elongated needle board mounted on said supporting means; an elongated needle comb including a row of vertical parallel spaced needles located in iront of said supporting means mounted thereon movably in a transverse direction; a row of spaced parallel horizontal needles transversely movably mounted on said needle board and projecting therefrom with a free hooked end portion and a shaft portion; movable actuating means having cam means engaging a group of horizontal needles for moving consecutively each of said horizontal needles from a retracted position with said free hooked end portion thereof located behind said vertical needles to an advanced position between two adjacent vertical needles With said free Yhorizontal needles and said row oi vertical needles, said operating face being substantially parallel tothe line donned by said hooked endsioi said horizontal needles in advanced positionfand` having a length substantially equal to the length. ofV said cam means of said lmovable actuating means and adapted to pull loops. out of thezhooked end portions of said horizontal needles onto said shaft portions when said hookedend portionsare. advanced by said actuating means beyondV said operating face; means secured to and movable. with said movable actuating means. for inserting a thread into said hooked end portions of horizontal needles in advanced position. thereof after said hooked end portions are freed of said loops by said retaining means so that new loops are formed by pulling said thread through said; loops retained by said row of vertical needles when said horizontal needles areretracted` by saidmova able actuating means to said retracted position;l and adjusting means for transversely moving? said needle comb and saidneedleboard relative to each other for adjusting the. distance between said needle comb on one hand and said needle board and the hooked ends of the horizontal needies in retracted position on the. other hand.

4. In a knitting apparatus, in combination, elongated supporting means; av row of spaced parallel transverse needles mounted on said sup-A porting means movable in transverse direction. each needle having a shank portion and. a freev hooked end portion projecting from said supporte ing means; movable actuating means mountedon said supporting means movable in 'longitudinal direction and engaging said parallel needles; consecutively during such movement for'moving each of said needles consecutively from al retracted position to an advanced position and back again; nrst retaining means mounted onsaid supporting means and projecting into the path of; said hooked end portions of said needles, said iirst. retaining means being adapted to retain a knitted work piece which is suspended on said needles when said needles move to said retracted: position ofthe. same; a second retaining means secured to said actuating means and being movable therewitiriin longitudinal direction,l said second retainingl means having an operating portion located between said first retaining means and said hooked end portions of those of said needles which are moved by said actuating means to said advanced position, said operating portion being adapted to engage said knitted Work piece during movement of said needles to said advanced position of the same for pulling the loops by which said work piece is suspended out of said hooked end portions and onto said shank portion; and thread insert# ing means for inserting a thread into said hooked end portions of said needles in said advanced position of the same, said thread being pulled through said loops on said shank portions to form new loops when said needles return to said retracted position, and when said work piece and said loops on said shank portions are retained by said first retaining means.

5. In a knitting apparatus, in combination, elongated supporting means; a row of spaced parallel transverse needles mounted on said supporting means movable in transverse direction, each needle having a shank portion and a free hooked end portion provided with a pivoted latch tongue, and projecting fromsaid supporting means; movable actuating means mounted on said supporting means movable in longitudinal direction and engaging said parallel lneedles consecutively during such movement for moving each of said needles consecutively from a retracted position to an advanced position and back again; rst retaining means mounted on said supporting means and projecting into the path of said hooked end portions of said needles, said first retaining means being adapted to retain a knitted work piece which is suspended on said needles when said needles move to said retracted position of the same; a second retaining means secured to said actuating means and being movable therewith in longitudinal direction, said second retaining means having an operating portion located between said first retaining means and said hook end portions of those of said needles which are moved by said actuating means to said advanced position, said operating portion being adapted to engage. said knitted work piece during movement of said needles to said advanced position of the same for pulling the loops by which said Work piece is suspended out of said hooked end portions and onto said shank portion, said loops pivoting said latch tongues to an open position; and thread inserting means for inserting a thread into said hooked end portions of said needles in said advanced position of the same, said thread being pulled through said loops on said shank `portions to form new loops when said needles return to said retracted position, and when said work piece and said loops on said shank portion are retained by said rst retaining means, said latch tongues being closed by said loops when thel same pass from said shank portions over said hooked end portions.

6. In a hand knitting apparatus, in combination, elongated supporting means; a row of spaced parallel horizontal transverse needles mounted on said supporting means movable in transverse direction in a horizontal plane, each horizontal needle having a shank portion and a free hooked end portion provided with a pivoted latch tongue and projecting therewith from said supporting means; movable actuating means mounted on said supporting means movable in longitudinal direction and engaging said horizontal needles consecutively during such moveo Number ment for moving each of said horizontal needles consecutively from a retracted position to an advanced position; an elongated needle comb secured to said supporting means and including a row of vertical 'spaced needles, said row of vertical needles being located in the path of said hooked end portions of said horizontal needles, each ofsaid horizontal needles passing between two adjacent vertical needles during the transverse movement thereof so that said vertical needles areadapted'to retain a knitted workpiece which is suspended on said horizontal needles when said horizontal needles move to said retracted position of the same; a retaining means secured to said actuating means and being movable therewith, said retaining means having an arcuate operating face having a center face portion projecting towards and extending substantially parallel to said needle comb, said operating face being located below said horizontal plane and between said needle comb and said hooked end portions of those of said needles which are moved by said actuating means to said advanced position, said operating face being adapted to engage said knitted work piece during movement of said horizontal needles to said advanced position of the same for pulling the loops by which said work piece is suspended out of said hooked end portions and onto said shank l portions, while said loops pivot said latch tongues to an open position; and thread inserting means for inserting a thread into said hooked end portions of said horizontal needles in said advanced position of the same, said thread being n, pulled through said loops on said shank portions to form new loops when said horizontal needles return to said retracted position, and when said work piece and said loops on said shank portions are retained by said vertical needles while said latch tongues are closed by loops passing from said shank portions over said hooked end portions.

ROBERT voN SKENE. WILLY WERNER LENKEIT. LISBETH DALIBOR.

` References Cited in the 'lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Crane Oct. 31, 1876 Crane June i5, 1869 Appleton Feb. 13, 1872 Egger s- May 2, 1922 De La Pena Aug. 14, 1945 

